Fire Protection Fabric
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Utility pole fire protection -
Utility pole fire protection -
Utility pole fire protection
Protect your utility poles from fire damage
Polesaver fire protection is a specially developed fire protection fabric formulated to protect utility poles from bush fires.
Benefits include:
Low cost relative to the cost of having to replace burnt poles
- Can withstand repeated exposure to fire and maintain protection
- Highly U.V. stable and weatherproof : designed service life of 20 years plus
- Compatible with all wood preservatives including Creosote and Pentachlorophenol
- Compatible with Polesaver ground line protection sleeves
Bush fires often set fire to wooden utility poles causing them to burn through and fail leading to loss of supply and danger to members of the public and livestock. This problem can be worse on poles treated with copper based wood preservatives as the copper tends to support smouldering of the wood leading to pole failure a few hours after the fire has passed through. Even if the pole does not burn through there is often heavy surface charring which results in a loss of pole strength that can lead to pole failure at a later date in bad weather or when there is another fire. This is dangerous and electrical arcing/sparks can start another fire.
Polesaver fire protection is a specially developed fire protection fabric formulated to protect utility poles from bush fires.
Also reduces heat input to the pole from the fire the fabric limits airflow to the pole surface. This prevents burn through caused by wind that increases smouldering and burning through on unprotected dry poles. The protection fabric has been tested and proven in service. It is supplied in one metre wide rolls that can be overlapped to cover greater pole height if needed. The fabric is quickly and easily applied using unskilled labour, it is simply wrapped around the pole, overlapped and stapled in place with stainless steel staples.
Comparison of Poleaver fire fabric with alternative systems
| Characterisitc | Liquid Coatings | Wraps and fabrics | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latex based paint | Intumescent paint | Latex wrap | Polesaver Fabric | |
| Withstand multiple burns | Yes | No | Yes (can be limited) | Yes |
| Skill level required for correct application | Medium | Medium | Low | Low |
| Level of care required by applicator for correct performance | High | High | Low | Low |
| Is performance consistent if applied unevenly | No | No | Consistent performance | Consistent performance |
| Pack to transport to site (ease of transport to site) | 25 Kg pail | 25 Kg pail | 10 Kg - 4 poles | 14 kg per roll (up to 25 poles) |
| Pole preparation required prior to application (eg crack filling) | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Time to apply to pole | 10 to 15 minutes | 10 to 15 minutes | 5 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Cost per pole | Medium/High | Medium/High | High | Low |
| Compatible with all preservative types including Creosote and Penta | No | No | No | Yes |
| Safe to apply | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Clean to apply | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Still provides full protection if the pole cracks or splits once coated | No (larger cracks or splits) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Typical field service life between inspection or recoating* | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 20 years plus |
* Can be dependent on level of fire exposure